|
|
|
A Proven Way That Women Can Quit Drinking Without AA
A Proven Way That Women Can Quit Drinking Without AA
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has helped millions of people recover from alcoholism. For many women, however, AA may not be the best choice when it comes to the difficult task of quitting...
Alcohol Drug Abuse Treatment Reaching Out For Help
There was a time when alcohol and drug abuse were thought to be problems of down and outs, no-hopers who had nothing in their lives, and people who would never amount to anything. Thankfully, an increasing awareness about these issues and the...
Alter your Attitudes
Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching? Lot have been said and written about attitudes.....What exactly are attitudes? The dictionary meaning of attitude is: "1. a feeling or opinion about something or someone, or a way of...
Do You Have Creaky Joints?
Regardless of your age, you could have Arthritis. In North America over Fifty five million people suffer from this debilitating disease. Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. It is characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness, deformity,...
Healthy Living - 5 Steps to Get There
Life has many opportunities for enjoyment. The problem is for many unhealthy people life is too short to take advantage of these simple pleasures. Healthy living is the key to achieve this.
Healthy living consists of everything we do that...
Impulsive Behaviors in Mental Health
Impulse Control Disorders are common in children today. There is
not a person in the world that hasn't acted out impulsively, but
when symptoms are reoccurring and consistent, you had better get
help. Judgment plays a role in impulses and if the...
PASSING JUDGMENT ON MEN
PASSING JUDGEMENT ON MEN A Self-Destructive and Addictive Behaviour At one time or another most women have indulged in a session of male criticism with their girlfriends. This is an addictive ritual many women allow themselves when they are...
Residential Drug Treatment Centers - Overcome Addictions
Chemical dependency recovery provides with positive changes in reactions and behaviors. Residential Treatment Centers can be accommodate those suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, and more. Treating both men and women...
Shadows...
The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspect of the personality as present...
Why Most People Don't Really Want to Heal (Part 2)
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ILLNESSES The first step to healing is to accept that we created our illnesses in the first place. This can be a difficult concept to swallow. So many of us are invested in the prevailing Western scientific medical...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learning to Say No--The Secret to Weight Loss
From the time you were a child, you might have been a people
pleaser. You tried to ace your schoolwork in order to win your
parents' approval...you practiced soccer for hours on end to win
a vote of support from your coach...or you diligently practiced
your piano chords in order to earn the gratitude of your music
teacher. There's nothing wrong with aiming to please. It can
make you a respected leader, a valued friend, a comforting
mentor. However, it should be recognized that some food
addictions begin with an inability to say "no."
It might have begun with a Thanksgiving during your childhood
when your mother asked if you wanted a second helping of mashed
potatoes. Or a teacher at your elementary school might have
given you a gold star if you cleaned your plate. You were
probably taught that it is wrong to waste food and that a hearty
appetite was a good thing. The problem is, such cues from your
environment might have caused you to learn the wrong lessons
when it came to food consumption.
In our society, many people have difficulty saying "no." They
want to be part of the crowd and they don't want to stand out
for non-participation. They will do all they can to blend in and
that leads them to say "yes" more times than they'd like to. In
fact, the epidemic of alcohol and drug abuse may be due in part
to the refusal of many people to say "no."
Admitting that you have a problem overcommitting yourself is
the first step to progress. It shows that you have a great deal
of insight into your own problems with food and you want to
change your bad habits and replace them with admirable ones. But
this can be difficult, given the fact that so many families have
a number of rituals involving food. Also, unlike cigarettes or
marijuana, food is not considered inherently bad--nor should it
be. However, you need to learn how to use food effectively.
Part of your training begins with learning the power of "no" or
"no thank you." You need to learn to assert yourself, to
recognize that you do not have to go along in order to get
along. You
realize that you are doing yourself no favors by
accepting extra helpings of pasta--in fact, you could be doing
your body a great deal of harm. The key now is to do something
about it.
What's the best way to undergo assertiveness training? One
method you can use is role-playing. Practice saying "no" to
extra servings with the help of a friend playing the role of
adversary. In this "pretend" situation, you may feel more
comfortable saying "no." You will also learn that saying "no"
isn't the end of the world; that you will not automatically lose
friends by taking a "negative" stance.
Another trick you might use is making sure that you do not
slouch while sitting at the table for your meals. Slouching
indicates defeat--a belief that a situation is hopeless. With
your head held high you will gain the confidence you need to say
"no"--and to mean it.
Yet another effective strategy is to keep a journal recording
your thoughts after you've said "no"--either to more food or to
a commitment you just can't handle at this time. Putting your
feelings in writing can be quite cathartic. It can also help you
with problem-solving, enabling you to figure out ways that you
can say "no" without hurting another person's feelings.
Something else you will need to learn is that it is not
necessary for you to fulfill another person's expectations. In
other words, whether your Aunt Mary thinks you're eating enough
really doesn't matter. If you recognize that you are overweight,
Aunt Mary's opinion shouldn't be taken into account. You must do
what you think is best in order to take control of your eating.
Assertiveness will not happen immediately. But, with practice,
you can learn to say "no" like a pro. And you--and your
waistline--will be better off as a result of what you've
learned.
About the author:
As a Teacher of Sport and Physical Education, Tony Robinson has
a keen interest in Health and Weight Loss issues. For handy
hints and tips for weight loss visit
http://www.weight-loss-arena.com
|
|
|
|
|
|